How to Reach Khewra Salt Mine from Islamabad and Lahore

To reach Khewra Salt Mine by car, take the M-2 motorway. From Lahore, leave at the Lilla interchange and drive about 30 km east through Pind Dadan Khan to the mine. From Islamabad or Rawalpindi, leave at the Kallar Kahar interchange and drive about 40 km past Katas Raj and Choa Saidan Shah, down through the Salt Range to Khewra. Allow about two and a half hours from Islamabad and three to three and a half hours from Lahore, without long stops.

There is no direct bus to the mine, so most people drive or hire a car and driver. This guide covers both motorway routes in detail, the older road through Chakwal, what to expect on the Salt Range stretch of the M-2, public transport, and parking at the mine.

Which motorway exit for Khewra Salt Mine?

The mine is at Khewra, at the southern foot of the Salt Range, in Jhelum district. The M-2 crosses the Salt Range a little to the west, climbing from the plain near Lilla up to the plateau at Kallar Kahar, so there are two sensible exits:

• Lilla interchange, at the bottom of the range. The road from here to the mine is about 30 km across flat country, through Pind Dadan Khan. This is the obvious choice from Lahore, and the district administration's own directions use it.
• Kallar Kahar interchange, at the top. From here a road runs east past the Katas Raj temples to Choa Saidan Shah, then winds down through the hills to Khewra, about 40 km in all. This is the shorter way from Islamabad, and it passes Katas Raj, which many visitors want to see anyway.

Your map app may suggest either from Islamabad. Both work; the Kallar Kahar route is shorter and more scenic, and the Lilla route keeps you on the motorway for longer and avoids the hill road.

From Lahore

1. Join the M-2 northbound towards Islamabad.
2. Pass the Sial and Bhera service areas. Bhera is the last big stop for fuel, food and toilets before your exit.
3. Leave at the Lilla interchange. It comes after the motorway crosses the Jhelum river and before the climb into the Salt Range.
4. Follow the road east to Pind Dadan Khan, about 24 to 26 km across farmland.
5. Turn north for Khewra, about 5 km, to the mine entrance at the foot of the hills.

The total is roughly 240 km, which is about three to three and a half hours with a short stop. Leave Lahore by 7 am to arrive by mid-morning.

From Islamabad and Rawalpindi

The Kallar Kahar route

1. Join the M-2 southbound towards Lahore.
2. Pass the Chakri service area and the Balkasar interchange.
3. Leave at Kallar Kahar. The service area here is the place for fuel and a break.
4. Drive east towards Choa Saidan Shah. After about 24 km you pass the Katas Raj temples beside the road.
5. Continue through Choa Saidan Shah, then follow the road down through the Salt Range to Khewra, about 10 km further.

This is about 155 km in all and takes roughly two and a half hours. The last stretch from Choa Saidan Shah descends through the hills with bends, so drive it in daylight and keep your speed down.

The Lilla route

Stay on the M-2 past Kallar Kahar, down the long descent through the Salt Range, and leave at Lilla, then follow the Lahore directions from step 4. It is about 190 km, a little longer in time, but almost all motorway.

The GT Road and Chakwal

If you prefer to avoid the motorway, the older route runs down the GT Road to Mandra, then south on the Mandra–Chakwal road to Chakwal, on to Choa Saidan Shah and down to Khewra. It is slower, with more traffic through the towns, but there are no motorway tolls.

The Salt Range section of the M-2

The stretch between Kallar Kahar and Lilla is the only real mountain section of the M-2. The motorway climbs and descends through the Salt Range on long gradients, and it has some of the highest bridges on the route. A few things to keep in mind:

• Heavily loaded trucks crawl uphill and descend slowly in low gear. Overtake with care and leave space.
• Use your gears on the way down, rather than riding the brakes on the long descent.
• Winter fog is the biggest hazard on the M-2, mostly from December to January and mostly on the plains towards Lahore. The motorway police close sections when visibility drops, so check before leaving early on a winter morning.
• M-Tag. You need an active M-Tag with enough balance on the M-2. Without one you pay a surcharge or may be turned away at the toll plaza. Tags are issued at booths beside the toll plazas with your CNIC.
• Fuel and food. The service areas at Bhera and Kallar Kahar have fuel, restaurants, toilets and mosques in both directions.

By public transport

There is no direct bus or coach to the mine. It can be done, but it is slow:

• By bus or van to Pind Dadan Khan. Local services run to Pind Dadan Khan from nearby cities, including from Rawalpindi. Ask at the bus stand for the next departure, and expect a slow journey with stops.
• By train. A daily Pakistan Railways shuttle runs from Malakwal Junction to Pind Dadan Khan. It is cheap and slow, and it only helps if you are already on the railway line through Malakwal.
• The last 6 km. From Pind Dadan Khan, take a rickshaw or taxi to the mine, and agree the return pickup before you go in.

For most people, a car and driver for the day from Islamabad or Lahore, booked through a hotel or a ride-hailing app, is far easier and not much more expensive once shared.

Parking and arriving at the mine

Cars, vans, coasters and buses all park at the mine, with a small fee at the gate (under PKR 100 for a car in 2025–26).

Sundays, public holidays and the days around Eid are the busiest, with queues at the ticket office and for the train. On those days, aim to arrive when the mine opens at 9 am. On weekdays, timing matters much less.

Before you set off, check that the mine is open. In August 2026 it was closed to visitors for the rest of the monsoon after heavy rain, and summer closures may happen again. Our guide to Khewra Salt Mine ticket prices and timings covers the fees, hours and what you see inside.

Making a day of it

The Salt Range has enough for a full day, and the road network makes a neat loop from Islamabad:

1. Leave Islamabad by 7:30 am and take the M-2 to Kallar Kahar.
2. Stop at the Katas Raj temples on the way to Choa Saidan Shah. Our Katas Raj guide covers the site.
3. Continue down to Khewra and see the mine.
4. Have lunch, then drive south to Pind Dadan Khan and back to the M-2 at Lilla.
5. Take the motorway north through the Salt Range and home, back by early evening.

The loop avoids driving the same road twice. From Lahore, reverse it: Lilla, Khewra, Katas Raj, then join the motorway at Kallar Kahar for the drive home.

Should you drive yourself?

If you are comfortable on the M-2, driving yourself is simple. The motorway does most of the work, the roads off it are paved, and the only demanding part is the descent from Choa Saidan Shah, which is short.

A driver makes more sense if you are not used to hill roads, if you want to do the full loop without anyone getting tired, or if you are coming from Lahore and returning the same day, which adds up to six or seven hours at the wheel. For a more relaxed trip, stay a night near Kallar Kahar or in Chakwal and spread the Salt Range over two days. Our trip planning page can help you shape a longer itinerary.

Frequently asked questions